REPORT: Weis Will Be Back

Several media outlets reported Tuesday evening that coach Charlie Weis will return to Notre Dame for a fifth year.

Notre Dame director of football media relations director Brian Hardin was unable to confirm the reports. Athletics director Jack Swarbrick attended a fund-raising function and was not in the office Tuesday, according to Hardin. Weis remains on a recruiting trip in Hawaii and California. Scout.com, South Bend NBC affiliate WNDU and IrishIllustrated.com, all citing sources close to the program, reported that Weis will return despite Notre Dame's 9-15 record the past two seasons.

Meanwhile, coach Brian Kelly said Tuesday that he planned to remain at No. 13 Cincinnati after meeting with the team's president, athletics director and head of its board of trustees. Kelly has been frequently mentioned as a potential candidate to replace Weis.

There has been much speculation about Weis' future since 2-8 Syracuse upset the Irish 24-23 at Notre Dame Stadium on Nov. 22. It was Notre Dame's fourth loss in six games and the program's first to an eight-loss team. Host USC dominated Notre Dame 38-3 in Saturday's season finale, outgaining the Irish 265-9 in the first half. Notre Dame did not pick up an offensive first down until the final play of the third quarter.

Swarbrick said after the season-ending loss that he would sit down with Weis and begin evaluating the program when both returned to South Bend on Dec. 8.